United Torah Judaism legislators on Sunday condemned Health Minister Yuli Edelstein for instructing hospitals and health maintenance organizations to continue vaccination for coronavirus on Shabbat.
In an article published in Yated Ne'eman, a publication close to the party, Edelstein is slammed for ignoring the position voiced by rabbinical leaders, causing "great pain to the public."
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A Haredi man about to receive his first dose of the coronavirus vaccine in Jerusalem on Thursday
(Photo: Gil Yohanan)
According to the article, clinics offered vaccines administered by non-Jewish medical staff for the most part but in some locations Jewish nurses were on hand to administer the shots.
The religious leaders said there was no reason to violate the sanctity of the Sabbath when the vaccination effort could take place during the week.
Deputy Transportation Minister Uri Maklev of United Torah Judaism said Edelstein had made a commitment to him that there would be no vaccination on Shabbat, but has gone back on his word.
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Police arrest an ultra-Orthodox man during a protest against coronavirus health mitigations in Jerusalem in October
(Photo: Shalom Shalev)
"This feels like they are trying to win a competition. They are not behaving professionally," Maklev said of the Health Ministry.
"The ultra-Orthodox public has lost faith in the ministry's leadership already," he said.
"We've seen their lack of transparency throughout the pandemic when they forced tens of thousands of people into quarantine with no cause. How can their work be blessed when they attack Shabbat?"
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Garbage cans set on fire during Haredi protest against coronavirus health mitigations earlier this year in Jerusalem
(Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
"If this is indeed a question of life and death, the ministry should extend the vaccination points and bring in more professional health teams to work longer hours during the week," he said.